Each year, the Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperatives, along with the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, host Youth Day. Juniors in high school from across Illinois come together to meet their legislators and spend the day touring Springfield landmarks.

Students get the opportunity to learn more about state government and gain a better understanding of what legislators do at the Capitol. They also get to meet legislators and ask them questions about their roles in government.

Youth Day ends with students being given the chance to compete for an all-expense-paid weeklong trip to Washington, D.C.

To put an end to an unavoidable tax that unfairly singles out women, State Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, put forth legislation that would end the tax on feminine hygienic products like tampons.

“Items like tampons and sanitary napkins are taxed as luxury items, but all women know that periods are not a luxury,” Bush said. “We always talk about making frugal financial decisions, but this ‘pink tax’ unfairly targets women for a product they are literally biologically incapable of avoiding.”

Majority Caucus Whip Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) joined members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus at a press conference to discuss the negative impact the governor’s failure to approve a budget is having on Latinos.

“I’m frustrated by how many children, families and college students are being hurt by the budget impasse,” Martinez said. “I call on the governor to work with us in a bipartisan manner to put a stop to this.”

Latino college students are feeling the brunt of the governor not authorizing a higher education budget. Students across Illinois rely on the state’s Monetary Award Program (MAP) to pay for college and are now worried whether or not they can afford to continue their education.

The message was clear and the call for action united as members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus gathered outside the Senate chamber to voice their response to Governor Rauner’s State of the State address.

The press conference began with ILBC Chair Kimberly Lightford giving opening remarks setting the stage for a number of initiatives important to the African-American community to be discussed, including education equity, restoring essential social services and police brutality and incarceration reform.

This Monday, Americans will pause to remember the tireless work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who dedicated his life to advancing civil rights and justice for African-Americans and other marginalized groups throughout the United States.

In honor of Dr. King, many Americans will take the day to volunteer in their communities. Serve Illinois, a state commission tasked with increasing volunteerism, offers information on a multitude of volunteer opportunities across the state.

This Monday, we remember the timeless words of Dr. King: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

As Gov. Bruce Rauner celebrates his first year in office, he should reflect on how he has failed to live up to his promise of ensuring Illinois is a compassionate and competitive state, a group of Democratic state senators and human service providers urged Wednesday.

Flanked by providers who, along with their clients, bear the brunt of Gov. Rauner’s budget impasse with the General Assembly, state senators Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) and Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago 16th) called on the governor to stop holding the state’s poorest and most vulnerable residents hostage in pursuit of an anti-family, anti-worker agenda that lacks legislative support.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) announced Wednesday his intent to file legislation that will allow Illinois citizens to recall elected officials statewide.

“The purpose of this legislation is transparency and accountability,” said Harris. “We must hold our elected officials to a higher standard. If people decide they have lost trust in their elected officials, they should have the power to recall them.”

With the recent ill handling of the Laquan McDonald case and public outrage toward Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, Harris said he was disturbed by the way things unfolded.

State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) joined Annette Clark along with other officials, family and members of the Robbins community to honor the memory of her son with the dedication of the Honorary Rasul “Rocky” Clark Drive on the corner of West Lydia Avenue and South Hendricks Road in Robbins.

“This day means to me that my son’s legacy will never die, that his legacy lives on and he’s with us. It’s just a blessed day,” said Clark.

Rocky was a football player at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island when he was paralyzed during a game in 2000.

“If you knew Rocky, you knew one thing about him: He never complained,” said Harris. “Rocky showed compassion. He showed a huge amount of strength, determination and perseverance. We can all draw strength from Rocky because I know going through his times one thing remained the same, that beautiful smile.”

After his injury, Rocky went on to receive his high school diploma, attend college, coach football at Eisenhower and inspire many.

“Young people have to know that regardless of your situation, your surroundings or your communities, you can be any and everything that you want,” Representative William Davis (D-Hazel Crest) said. “He [Rocky] was that example for all of us.”

In 2010, the insurance provided to Rocky through the school district ran out, which forced him to rely on Medicaid, support from the state and his mother.

His situation shed light on the need for high schools to provide catastrophic injury insurance to all their athletes. Rocky’s Law was signed in 2013 and with its approval, Rocky’s legacy was cemented into Illinois history.

Across the country, tuition costs and students loans are soaring, but in Illinois, the problem has been further compounded by another issue. Students who receive financial aid from the state’s Monetary Award Program remain in limbo because the governor vetoed their funding.

Public colleges and universities have been fronting the costs to cover the MAP grants through the fall semester, but have indicated that generous gesture simply cannot continue. Last year, MAP grants assisted over 136,000 students in affording college.

Senator Pat McGuire (D-Joliet) is the chairman of the Higher Education Committee, and has been a vocal advocate for these students.

SPRINGFIELD – At a time when the public increasingly wonders whether the governor and legislative leaders are meeting to try to resolve Illinois’ budget crisis, State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) held a press conference today to introduce a proposal she hopes will prod those leaders to the negotiating table.

The measure, Senate Bill 2190, would require the governor and the four legislative leaders to meet publicly at least once per week to negotiate on the budget whenever the state enters a new fiscal year without a spending plan in place.